Roads: by-roads (chemins vicinaux) administration

Each Parish is responsible for the upkeep of by-roads (chemins vicinaux) within the Parish. The States, through the Department for Infrastructure, is responsible for main roads. Some roads may be privately owned or administered by another body, such as a housing trust, or a company including Andium Homes.

The Roads Committee (Comité des Chemins) is elected to administer the by-roads. Three members of the Roads Committee are appointed by the Parish Assembly for a 3 year term of office in accordance with the
Loi (1914) sur la Voirie (jerseylaw). The Connétable convenes and chairs the Roads Committee whenever necessary or when required by any member thereof and must give notice of each topic for the meeting. The Rector is also a member of the Roads Committee.

The Parish Assembly appoints two Roads Inspectors(Inspecteurs des Chemins) for each Vingtaine (or Cueillette in St Ouen) and they hold office for a term of three years. The Assembly is held in December and those elected enter into office on 1 January. Roads Inspectors are responsible for the repair of by-roads of the Parish and have to ensure the instructions of the Roads Committee are carried out.

Every September (and more often if necessary) the Roads Committee visits the by-roads accompanied by the Roads Inspectors in their respective Vingtaines to point out what is in need of repair and what work should be carried out.

Where a road (be it a main road or a minor road) forms the border between two Parishes (chemins mitoyens) the Roads Committees of each Parish must determine which Parish should be responsible for the Road and, to this end, may put up appropriate boundary stones. Within the Parish, a similar function may be undertaken in respect of roads where there are adjoining Vingtaines.

Placing a structure below, on or above a road

The Roads Committee may grant licences (Highways (Jersey) Law 1956 -
jerseylaw) authorising any person to place anything below, on or above a 'chemin vicinal'. No structure may be placed below, on or above a road without such permission - this includes scaffolding, hoarding and banners hung over a road etc.

Road closure or restriction

A road may not be closed to traffic, or its use restricted, other than with the prior permission of the Connétable of the Parish (Road Traffic (Jersey) Law 1956 -
jerseylaw). Applications should be submitted at least 7 days prior to the requested date of closure/restriction together with the appropriate fee. Road closures may not be permitted during the months of May to September inclusive due to seasonal restrictions.

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Chose publique

The Connétable may grant any person a permit authorising him to have exclusive occupation of any land over which the public customarily has the right to pass without let or hindrance (Customary Law (Choses Publiques) (Jersey) Law 1993 -
jerseylaw). This enables permits to be granted for so called 'al fresco' drinking on 'Choses publiques'. Conditions and a Code of Conduct will apply to all permits issued and failure to comply with the conditions and Code may result in the permit being withdrawn without notice.

Visite du Branchage

All persons, including co-ownership associations (for flying freehold properties) and companies (for share transfer properties) who occupy houses, lands, and other properties, alongside the public roads have a duty to cut the
branchage so that there is no impediment to those using the roads and footpaths.

A
Visite du Branchage takes place in each Parish twice a year to check that the
branchage has been cut and all trimmings have been removed. On the
Visite du Branchage the Connétable, members of the Roads Committee, the Centeniers and Vingteniers will visit the roads of the parish to ensure that the
branchage has been completed.

The
Visite du Branchage applies to all public roads including main roads, by-roads and footpaths. The first
Visite is during the three weeks from 24 June and the second is during the first three weeks of September.

Advance notice is given of the dates of the
Visites du Branchage and persons must:

cut the overhanging branches growing from their properties along those public roads in such a way that there is a height of 12 feet free beneath the branches over the entire width of those roads (including their "reliefs") and a height of 8 feet free over the footpaths; and

remove the branches that have been cut off as well as brambles, weeds and all other obstructions and deleterious matter that encroach on the public road or footpath.

Persons who fail to comply with these requirements are liable to a financial penalty not exceeding £100 for each infringement. If the
branchage has not been completed the person will be required to undertake the work and, if it is not carried out, the Parish may arrange for the work to be done and charge the person the cost of that work.

A person who is disputes the decision may
elect not to pay the administrative penalty. If the person does not pay, the Connétable may seek to recover the penalty as an ordinary civil debt, in which case the Petty Debts Court will determine whether or not the penalty has to be paid.

If a person does not remove the branchage in accordance with the requirements of an order he or she is guilty of an offence and liable to a penalty of level 2 on the standard scale (up to £1,000). However if the person charged accepts the decision of the relevant Centenier, the matter may be dealt with by the Centenier who may impose a fine of up to £200.

In any case, if thebranchage is not removed, the Connétable may undertake the necessary work in order to remove the branches, obstacle or other deleterious matter and may recover the costs incurred as a civil debt.

Visite Royale

A Visite Royale occurs in a Parish once every six years. The Royal Court will visit the Parish to inspect the Parish and roads accounts and will judge on matters relating to public roads and footpaths brought to its attention by the parish. The Parishes to be visited are -

2019 St Ouen (7 August) and St Clement (21 August)

2020 St Martin and St Lawrence

2021 St Saviour and St John

2022 St Peter and Grouville

2023 Trinity and St Mary

2024 St Helier and St Brelade

What is a 'green' lane?

Within Jersey a number of lanes have been designated by Parishes as 'green lanes'. These are generally tree-lined lanes which are particularly attractive or of great character and antiquity. The aim is to maintain the quiet, unspoilt and natural character of the countryside for people to enjoy as a leisure amenity where walkers, cyclists and horse riders, not the car, have priority. The speed limit on these lanes is 15 miles an hour. Further information on walking/cycling routes may be found on
jersey.com

Parking restrictions and charges

Parking restrictions operate in most public parking areas and, in some areas, may also apply on Sundays and Bank Holidays (parking information). Please check notices when you park as the requirements vary and may require:

The use of scratchcard(s) to display the time of arrival and to cover the duration of the proposed parking

The use of a 'parking disc' to display the time of arrival

Number-plate recognition is used in Sand Street car park, St Helier

The charge and time limit also varies across the island and, in a particular parking place, may vary according to the time of year.

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Parking fines

If you fail to display a valid parking disc or scratch card when you park, or if you do not move your car when the parking period has expired, you may receive a parking fine. You should pay the fine immediately and full instructions are printed on the notice you receive.

If you wish to query the circumstances of the parking infraction or you dispute a parking fine you may attend a Parish Hall Enquiry and speak to the Duty Centenier. Contact the relevant Parish to arrange an appointment.

Failure to pay a parking fine will result in a summons to the Magistrate's Court. You may:

Appear in Court to answer the charge yourself and the Magistrate, having heard the facts, will determine the case. If you are found guilty of the parking infraction the Magistrate may award costs against you and will also determine the penalty; or

Avoid a Court appearance if you pay the fine before the date you have been summonsed to appear in Court (payment to the Parish Hall or, for public car parks administered by Department for Infrastructure, to the Parking Control Office, Sand Street car park, St Helier).

If you fail to pay the fine or to appear in Court when summonsed to do so the Magistrate may order your arrest, with or without an option for bail, for future attendance in Court.

Parking - disabled driver scheme

Parking badges for disabled drivers are available from the Town Hall, St Helier. The blue disabled badge permits you to park in any public car park and to park on specially designated 'disabled driver' parking areas in St Helier and elsewhere. The blue badge is also recognised in other European countries.